Epsom & Ewell 2 vs 3 Chessington & Hook United

With a number of regular first team players unavailable, and with the need to be making adjustments to the team sheet as the players were leaving the dressing rooms for the start of the match.

But what followed was without question the best performance for many weeks, and a deserved win away at local rivals Epsom and Ewell.

With the amount of changes that were made it was inevitable that we would need to settle, and the early play favoured our hosts but Andrew Heath in goal ensured we stayed level with a decent if not usual type of goalkeeping block at his near post within the first five minutes.

Gradually though as we settled we started to play, and our first chance or half chance at least fell to Gary Puckett, who just failed to get the right contact with his head from a right wing set play.

At this stage we had grabbed the initiative and were enjoying good possession all round the pitch, and was unlucky when one such passing phase ended with Fontana setting Cole-Bolt, whose shot from twenty five yards hit the bar. Clearly buoyed by the way we were playing we created two further chances in quick succession. John Duggan making his first start for the first team hitting a fine volley that was well saved, and Matt Holley heading over when he should have scored from a Cole-Bolt corner.

Such was our dominance at this point that we were taking defensive responsibilities for granted, and that was what allowed a chance for Epsom which Andrew Heath did well to keep out with his legs when faced with a one on one.

Back we came though from this moment of concern, and a further chance came our way when Adam Chandlers through ball was received by Fontana who not for the first time created a chance for a team mate, this time Zak Graham who was unfortunate to see his attempt deflected wide.

As the break approached we took the proverbial kick in the teeth when from a direct free kick we conceded. Hardly deserved, but that’s football and all of a sudden it was about how we would react.

At the start of the second half we had clearly re grouped and continued to play some very good football. The belief was clearly still there and it didn’t take long for our performance to be rewarded. A fine move down our left saw Dan Gurney cross , only for Adam Welch’s shot to be tipped round the post. However we weren’t to be denied as Cole-Bolt’s corner was powerfully headed home by skipper Matt Holley.

With us rightly on level terms we continued to be the aggressors in this game, and from virtually our next meaningful attack we took the lead. Adam Chandler and Aaron Cole-Bolt exchanging passes in the midfield before switching play to the left, where Zak Graham’s infield pass to Cole – Bolt was controlled and drilled home for a fine team goal.

Having turned the game on its head within ten minutes of the restart we sensed an opportunity to finish the game off, and just a couple of minutes after taking the lead we nearly extended it further, when Adam Welch hit a speculative left foot shot from thirty five yards that just flew over the bar with the goal keeper well beaten.

Next to test the keeper was Fontana, but unfortunately his shot was sufficiently close to Epsom’s keeper for him to make a comfortable save.

With the back line looking secure and Heath in goal rarely troubled it seemed only a matter of time before we scored again, but as often happens in this game, out of the blue our hosts scored. A left wing cross being headed home at the front post.

Back again we came and with twenty minutes left we scored an almost identical goal to our first. This time it was Fontana’s shot turned away for a corner and Puckett heading home from Cole Bolt’s delivery to restore our lead.

The expected onslaught didn’t really materialise, but with both sides making changes to both their personnel and shape we were under a degree of pressure and now relying on the counter attack.

Several times near the end we broke efficiently, playing some really good football on the way only for Oymelukwe, Cole- Bolt, Graham and Fontana to either be denied or be wayward with their final shot or pass selection.

With the game in stoppage time and with the drama of having no available match ball for a late corner to be taken, which saw the game stopped for at least two minutes, and with Fontana retrieving the ball from the undergrowth to enable it to be taken, we managed to concentrate and deal with the set play with a combination of Heath and Puckett on hand to save the day.

We at last had put in a performance of note and without question deserved our moment.